While I’m optimistic about the prospects for 5G in the longer term, I think we’re in a particular period of pre-5G hype cycle, where a dose of reality is needed. A key to understand is that it’s going to be very, very different than 4G. Read more...

October 2018:
Operators Should Charge A Premium for 5G...But Not Initially

been remarkably little discussion about pricing strategy. In this column, I discuss possible pricing options for mobile 5G services. But there are some key benchmarks in terms of coverage and performance that must be reached before they can charge a premium price for 5G. Read more...

The past year has been a challenging one for tech, what with #metoo moments, data breaches, unseemly use of power, ‘fake news’, Russia meddling, etc. I’m hoping that all this is the catalyst for some important conversations about the long-term effects of tech acceleration on the future of how we live, work, and get around. Read More.

July 2018:
The Second Half of 2018 Will Be Much More Interesting Than The First Half

Other than industry M&A, the first half of 2018 wasn't too exciting from a product and service standpoint. But 2H 2018 will feature 5G launches, auctions, and lots of other interesting developments. Here's my preview

As the debate about the merits of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. It's important to look at the broader context of how the wireless and broadband industries are evolving, and how capacity is a major dictator of the type of service that wireless operators can offer consumers. Read more

June 2018:
Telecom and Mobile Implications of the AT&T-Time Warner Deal

My views on the broad implications of the deal, and more specifically what it means for the telecom and mobile landscape. Read more

A frequently asked question of industry analysts is "how big is the 5G market going to be?" The real answer is that although it might be possible to forecast the size of
certain aspects of 5G, it is nearly impossible to forecast the 5G market as an aggregate entity. Read more

AT&T held its second annual Shape conference, billed as the convergence of technology and entertainment. As one of a small group of analysts who attended the event, I thought I'd share some top-level impressions. Here's my preview

On the heels of the T-Mobile/Sprint merger announcement (Round 3), the market has been pessimistic, with consensus on the Street that chances of approval stands at less than 50%. I disagree. If T-Mobile and Sprint play their cards right, the chances of getting the deal through this time 'round are much better. Here are some of the main points I believe regulators should consider. Read more

May 2018:
A Lot Needs to Happen Before Self-Driving Cars Are A Reality

Exciting as the possibility, I think the viability of a full-fledged self-driving car in the day-to-day real world is further off than many believe. Read more

Russia might be winning the cyberwars, but it's China that is emerging to challenge the United States for Global 5G dominance. This issue has crystallized in days pre- and post- the 5G-themed Mobile World Congress. And with the Trump administration blocking the Broadcomm deal, the Games have apparently already begun. Read more

I believe it is time to start having a serious conversation about the role these companies should play in our national interests. If cyberattacks represent among the greatest dangers to the international community today, one could argue that companies such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter could be the digital/information equivalent of giant defense contractors such as Raytheon and Northrop Grumman Read more

February 2018:
The number portability database migrates in April: Is the industry ready?

The NPAC, which administers number portability and call routing, is scheduled to switch from Neustar to iconnetiv in April. This is a giant industry IT project...and there are questions on whether the we're ready for the cutover and whether a sufficient rollback mechanism exists. Read more

This past week, Qualcomm hosted analysts for a ‘5G Day’, where they charted their progress on 5G and announced 18 operator and 19 OEM commitments to their X50 5G chipset. This presents a good opportunity to reflect on the state of 5G. Read the full column...

January 2018:
We Don't Need to Nationalize 5G, But Here's How the Government Can Help

The wireless world is aswirl with reports that national security officials are considering a plan to take control of 5G networks. It's not going to happen, but the National Security Council proposal serves a useful purpose: as the catalyst for a conversation about the role of government in our next-generation broadband network. Read the full column...

The ongoing battle over Network Neutrality tells me that our current regulatory structure, largely defined by the 1996 Telecom Act, has become outmoded. With so many changes in technology and industry structure, I believe it's time for a broad strategic review. Read the full column...

January 2018:
Why Aren't There More Industries with 'Dyanmic Pricing'?

On a recent episode of Recode’s podcast Too Embarrassed to Ask, Kara Swisher and Lauren Goode interviewed Recharge CEO Manny Bamfo about his startup, which lets customers rent hotel rooms by the minute rather than by the night.
In the era of AI and big data, it is curious to me why more industries aren’t doing a better job of optimizing their inventory. Read more...

January 2018:
Some Common-Sense Approaches to Solving the Smartphone Addiction Problem

Let's admit it: most of us are addicted. Solving this issue doesn't require lawsuits, new regulations, apps that tell us how much time we're spending on these devices, or any particularly fancy technology. It does require some common step approaches, both on the user side and the industry side. So here's my prescription. Read the full column...

As this continues to be litigated over the coming months, it might be a good time to think about the best protections from anticompetitive practices, while recognizing the rapid changes occurring in content, digital media, and communications. I urge the major actors in the game to adopt the following Code of Conduct. Read more...

December 2017:
Blocking the AT&T-Time Warner Deal and Repealing Network Neutrality Are Inconsistent

The DOJ is trying to block AT&T’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner,while the repealed network neutrality. When looked at together, these actions reveal a mixed, and inconsistent signal from our government. Read more...

November 2017:
Ten Important Questions About Next Generation Wireless Networks

As we head into the latter part of this decade, it appears that the ‘digital divide’, which has historically referred to the haves and have-nots of broadband, is hitting wireless services, as well. Read more...

August 2017:
Shows We’d Like To See From Apple’s $1 Billion Content Budget

It has been reported that Apple is planning to spend $1 billion on developing and acquiring content. Here’s a bit of a lighter look at some shows we’d like to see from Apple’s dip into content. Read more...

With all the hype around what new whiz-bang features the new iPhone will sport, an under-addressed question, in my view, is whether it support all the new wireless spectrum bands that are being deployed. Read more...

Until now, FWA has been used for 'broadband as a last resort' in rural areas. But with advances in LTE, and testing in the new millimeter wave frequencies, FWA is now getting a serious look as a potentially viable mainstream broadband service in North America and other developed economies. Read more...

The internet, broadband, and the PC/smartphone have had huge impact on many industries. But I've also been thinking about what industries or consumer experiences have NOT been as significantly affected by tech, at least so far. Read more...

There have been numerous columns commemorating the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the iPhone and its impact on consumers, businesses, tech, and various industries. This has me thnking about some other momentous changes in tech over the past decade...as well as some areas we thought we'd be further along. Read more...

June 2017:
Five Internet Companies That Need Better Consumer-Facing Customer Service

What are some consumer-oriented Internet companies and brands that need to improve their customer service? My bias is toward actually being able to talk to a human being, in real-time, by phone or via live chat. Read more...

Verizon has spent $10b+ to amass a fairly formidable combination of assets in the media/content/ad tech spaces. My advice for for Messrs. McAdam & Armstrong, and Ms. Walden on what to do now. Read more...

Uber needs a PR Win. A large number of low-income Americans don’t have a car and/or live in so-called 'food deserts'. This is a match made in heaven. Read more...

April 2017:
The iPhone’s 10th Anniversary Gift should be A Revitalized Apple ‘Experience’

Even with all the hype around the new iPhone, I think that there has been a slow and steady erosion of the vaunted ‘Apple Experience’. Here are my five pillars of how this might be re-imagined. Read more...

With the recent announcement of an accelerated timeline for 5G, it's a good opportunity to take stock of where we are. Bottom line: it will occur in stages; it will be messy; and there will be multiple versions/flavors. Read more...

March 2017:
Despite the 5G Hype, There's Still A Compelling Roadmap for 4G

There's still a lot of gas left in the 4G tank, and many of the capabilities of LTE-Advanced Pro exceed what we might see in 'early 5G'. Read more...

In an era of self-driving cars, artificial intelligence, and drones that can deliver packages, why is it so hard to turn on the damn TV? My list of things in everyday consumer tech that should be easier. Read more...

It’s 2020. 5G wireless is being rolled out, with speeds exceeding 10 Gbps, latency below 1 millisecond, and the ability to accommodate vastly more traffic and connections. Will the average household be able to go wireless only? Read more...

Developments in 2016 laid the foundation for what I believe will be a year of change and innovation in 2017. If there is one over-arching theme, it's that there will be a lot of action on new types of networks. Read the Column...

December 2016:
Memo to President-Elect Trump: Networks Are a Critical Part of Our Infrastructure

President-elect Trump says he wants to spend upwards of one trillion dollars "rebuilding our nation's infrastructure". I urge him to consider that connectivity is as important for business and national competitiveness in the 21st century as improving our roads, bridges, airports, and the energy grid. Read the column...

The IoT market became real during 2016. LPWANs were launched in several cities by Ingenu, Sigfox, and the LoRa-based Senet. In 2017, cellular operators will launch IoT networks of their own, in the LTE band. Read more...

The wireless industry has never had a successful loyalty program. I would argue the current offerings are largely rewards programs and giveaways, not loyalty programs.
What might a real loyalty program look like? Read more...

Are cellular, pay TV, and broadband are overpriced. Take a look at the cost of providing some of these services, plot them against demand and usage patterns, and consider some of the unique aspects of the North America market and geography, a different picture emerges... Read More

We are at an interesting moment in the "Post PC Era", a term the late Steve Jobs coined when he introduced the iPad in June, 2010. My view is that we're perhaps weaving in a bit of a different direction than Jobs envisioned. Read More

March 2016:
Options for Improved Coverage and Capacity Options Multiply

There is a wave of new technology and products hitting the market in earnest, promising to help address some common coverage and capacity challenges, for both cellular and Wi-Fi. Read more...

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to observe TLPS in action. The result: the addition of Channel 14 resulted in a downlink capacity increase of 45% and an uplink capacity increase of 34%. Additionally, there were modest performance improvements in Channels 1, 6, and 11. Read More...

Apple and Amazon are both impressive companies, doing impressive things, delivering great products and services and delighting their customers. But it makes sense to step back and consider what Amazon is accomplishing. Read more...

One element that I believe has been lacking in these early innings of 5G is a discussion of the consumer. What are they looking for in a next-generation wireless network? And how does this relate to fixed broadband, for which the vast majority of mobile subscribers still have a separate subscription? Read More

What if wireless operators had the ability to add substantial capacity to their networks without having to pay billions of dollars for additional spectrum? And what if this also made your WiFi work better? An update on what the LTE-U roadmap looks like for 2016. Read more...

It's that time of year again: my annual 'themes and predictions' column. Spectrum, network capacity and security will take center stage. There will be some breakout categories in IoT. And it will be somewhat of a 'pause' year in the consumer device and wearables category.Read more...

Poker-playing Charlie Ergen is clearly winning at the game of "spectrum hold 'em". But with the continued demand for data, network capacity is the principal currency in the wireless business.
It it finally time for DISH's spectrum to be put to work? Read the full column...

November 2015:
2016 Is a Pivotal Year for Sprint and a Stress Test for T-Mobile

We are in the midst of the most aggressive fourth quarter/holiday season customer grab that I can remember. So what happens when the dust settles? I think 2016 is shaping up as a pivotal year for Sprint, and as a stress test for T-Mobile. And, I predict that a year from now, there will be a substantial change in the industry's current structure. Read more...

The time might be right, however, to take the smart city concept to the next level: an actual, working, and continually evolving smart city, where all the disparate, siloed elements of today’s smart city initiatives are brought together into a more holistic approach. Read the full column...

Lowenstein argues that the indoor small cell market will only take off when there are neutral host solutions, and when there's a better business model for businesses to have 'skin in the game'. Read more...

The Wi-First concept has been around for a few years. The idea is that Wi-Fi can be leveraged to offer a less expensive wireless service. It also benefits the operators, since traffic can be offloaded from the cellular network. But in my view, cellular and Wi-Fi need to get along a lot better in order for these services to become more viable. Read my full column here

On March 29, 2016, the FCC is scheduled to kick off the 600 MHz spectrum auction.
Many analysts believe this auction will be another bonanza. I have a contrarian view. I don’t believe the auction will be a dud, but it could well disappoint. Read my full column in Tech.pinions.

Apple has done a fair bit of work over the past couple of years to build share and stickiness in the family segment, with Family Sharing in iCloud and the family membership plan in Apple Music. But given the number of multi-device Apple households, Apple could be doing a lot more for families and groups. Read my inaugural column in Tech.pinions.

Here's an idea for a new operator tagline: "The most consistent wireless network." OK, so I won't win a CLIO. But as banal and unlikely to be adopted as that adage sounds, it's going to be the most important measure of a user's wireless network experience going forward. Read more...

We have operated under the assumption for many years that spectrum is a scarce resource. But there are a number of developments that could radically change the spectrum framework for the second half of this decade, to the enormous benefit of users and the entire mobile ecosystem. Read more...

As we approach the middle of the decade, Lowenstein argues that the telecom industry structure is upside down. We need consolidation in wireless, greater competition in broadband, DISH's spectrum to be put into play, and some bold hybrid fixed/mobile experiments a la Europe. Read more...

On the one hand, Google wants to shake up the industry, and on the other hand, it doesn't want to bite the operator hands that partially feed it. Here are seven ways that I think Google could make its MVNO better. Read more...

In his latest column, Lowenstein argues that the AWS-3 auction results will have far-reaching implications for the wireless industry. He predicts this will be a “year of deals and new types of partnerships”. Read more...

As an experiment, I decided to see how much I could do on a given day while leaving my wallet at home and relying solely on my smartphone as a typical commuter in the walking- and transportation-friendly city of Boston. Read this guest post I wrote for Verizon Wireless.

You've all seen my numerous posts on both the pivotal role of Wi-Fi in the mobile revolution, and the frank appraisal of what needs to happen in order for Wi-Fi to be a viable substitute for or complement to cellular use for certain types of users and contexts. There's been a lot of progress on this of late. I've written a Foreword to a new book on Wi-Fi First by Alan Berrey, which can be downloaded here

Lowenstein contends that among our many daily experiences, the grocery shopping experience has been barely touched by
the benefits of mobile technology. In this column, he lays out the state of the market and offers several suggestions for what
grocery retailers can do. Read more...

The AWS-3 auctions have raised more than $35 billion to date. Even after FirstNet and other earmarks have been fully funded, the government will have $25 billion plus that presently is slated to disappear into a Black Hole, AKA the Dept. of Treasury, toward the deficit. Lowenstein argues that there are some important and innovative ways those funds could be utilized. Read more...

With Apple Pay, Apple has created the user experience that will usher in broader acceptance of mobile payments. But there’s still lots of work to be done before you can leave your wallet at home. Read the Full Column

This issue is devoted to my thoughts on three 'new' services that could change the landscape of how we use mobile: Apple Pay, Wi-Fi Calling, and Voice over LTE (VoLTE). Read the latest Lens

September 2014:
Opportunities for the FCC To Fast-Track Broadband, Competition

There have been three broad themes to the FCC under Chairman Tom Wheeler, reinforced in his remarks at the recent CTIA trade show: more competition, more spectrum, and an open, non-discriminatory Internet. I believe there are some opportunities for the FCC to fast-track certain items that add more mobile broadband capacity and expand consumer choice. Read the Column

August 2014:
Lowenstein’s Memo to New Sprint CEO: How to Turn Things Around

Sprint’s new CEO, Marcelo Claure, has a significant challenge ahead: Organic subscriber growth has plateaued; the industry is already highly competitive; Sprint's network continues to trail the competition; and T-Mobile has picked off some of the lower hanging fruit of good ideas and potential differentiators, as the industry underdog, over the past 18 months. And, no other country has four facilities-based wireless operators who are all viable and profitable. With that background, here are some thoughts for Sprint's new CEO.

How many times a day, when encountering various tech-related challenges/problems/annoyances, do you think to yourself, “why is this so hard”, or “why hasn’t someone solved this?” Instead of speculating about the “next big thing”, this Lens is devoted to pointing out some smaller issues that, more effectively addressed, would make things better for a lot of folks. So here’s my list of Ten Everyday Tech Things That Could Be Better.

T-Mobile cleverly coined the term "uncarrier" to market its maverick moves, changing the game in several aspects of mobile services. What are some other “Uncarrier” moves I’d like to see from mobile operators? Read the Column

With the continued growth in demand for data and proliferation of private and public Wi-Fi hotspots, the idea of a 'Wi-Fi First' wireless service has become a favorite discussion topic. It is technically possible to offer a Wi-First service. However, I think there is a long way to go before Wi-First can be considered as a viable, mainstream alternative to a cellular plan. Read More

Regulators' main argument is that further consolidation in the wireless industry would be bad for competition. I believe the opposite. My view is that a combination of Sprint and T-Mobile would be better for competition in connectivity, and in the long run, better for consumers. Read More

In sharp contrast to the rest of Washington, where little of substance is getting done, Tom Wheeler's FCC is actively engaged on many important fronts. And that's a good thing. This is a critical time in the communications and digital media industries. I'm not arguing for a spate of new regulations, but we do need the public sector to be proactively engaged and involved, in two respects. Read More

By now, you've read the news and some analysis of the Verizon "More Everything" announcement. I'd like to look at all the recent wireless pricing activity from a broader context. Let's get one thing straight: we are not in the middle of a "wireless price war" in the United States. Read More

It is now time to turn to the serious business of 2014. Since we all like to start the year with resolutions, goals, and objectives, here's my 2014 "To Do" for some of the wireless industry's key players. Read More

Rumors have surfaced once again about a possible Sprint-TMO merger. Lowenstein acknowledges that regulators might not like the idea, but argues that a deal makes sense and might smooth the way for a maverick fourth player to emerge as a competitor. Read here

Lowenstein believes we have entered an exciting new phase, where the unique combination of smartphone capabilities, plus their ubiquity and near constant presence, are enabling new categories of applications and services. Here's his take on some major new areas of value creation for mobile.Read here

How often does this happen to you: Your phone is displaying five bars of 4G or four bars of Wi-Fi, but the data speeds are very slow. In an era of crowd-sourced data and real-time information about so many things in our daily lives, it's time for a better real-time view of the quality of a mobile data connection. Read here

September 2013:
Part 2: Microsoft-Nokia Deal: Six Things Microsoft Needs to Do

My analysis of why Microsoft acquired Nokia and thoughts on six things Microsoft should do to become more relevant in mobile.Read More....

Will wearables continue along their current trajectory--distinct, standalone products aimed at particular market segments--or become the breakout gadget or concept that has broad market appeal, either as a new product category (like the smartphone or tablet), or function as an important companion to the existing products in our digital lives?Read more...

T-Mobile made several announcements this week to
further its "un-carrier strategy": extending family plans to non-credit
subscribers, and offering Jump, an innovative plan for those who want
to switch their phones more often.Read More....

Among
the wave of M&A that has swept the wireless industry in recent
years, I believe Dish-Sprint offers the most intriguing possibilities
for innovative service and business models. The combination of assets
could help redefine what broadband and video delivery services look
like, over the next five years.Read More....

WiFi is becoming a much larger
part of the overall connectivity framework. Continued improvement in
WiFi capabilities (speed, range, etc.) and the expansion of indoor and
outdoor hotspots mean greater intermingling of cellular and WiFi
networks. Broadband companies, such as cablecos, might take greater
“connectivity” share. For wireless operators, WiFi is a "frenemy".Read More....

As many of you know, I do a lot of work in the area
of disruptive technologies and business models. So I thought I'd share
a few thoughts on my experience with Aereo, a new service that allows subscribers to
view live broadcast television, over the Internet, on their TV or any
mobile device, using a remote antenna, without subscribing to cable.Read More....

BYOD
is a big buzzword in wireless. But I think the term is a bit of a
misnomer. What we're really seeing is the emergence of the "Bring Your
Own Plan (BYOP)" era in wireless. The catalyst, really, is the steady
migration to a structure where voice and text are unlimited, and
subscribers pay for a bucket of GB. Data is the new currency.Read More....

Among
the wave of M&A that has swept the wireless industry in recent
years, I believe Dish-Sprint offers the most intriguing possibilities
for innovative service and business models. The combination of assets
could help redefine what broadband and video delivery services look
like, over the next five years.Read More....

It
is mid-2013, and we are nowhere near where we thought we would be with
mobile payments in North America. There's huge velocity in the area,
but mobile payments have impacted relatively few consumers' lives to
this point. To explain why mobile payments haven't taken off, I'd like
to use the analogy of E-ZPass vs. parking meters.Read More....

A top strategic question is whether mobile could
possibly compete with
fixed broadband. My views on this have evolved over the past six months
-- the technology roadmap, strategic considerations, and public policy
are pointing to the increased viability of mobile being a broadband
alternative.Read More....

The theme of my 2013 "predictions" piece was that this
is going to be a
year of "disruption" across many elements of the value chain. I'd like
to delve a little deeper into a discussion of business models and
pricing, where I think we will see both disruption to prevailing
structures, and experimentation around new forms of monetization. I see
this happening in many sectors of the mobile space: operator pricing,
video over mobile, "content everywhere," and applications.Read More....

There
are many who predict that TV is the next industry to be "disrupted".
Certainly there has been a proliferation of over-the-top solutions,
expansion of content to mobile devices, and attempts to modernize the
user interface. And of course there is ongoing speculation with regards
to Apple's next move. But I believe a wholesale disruption to the
current framework is unlikely.Read more.

In
2012, it became clear that mobile has become a central component of the
digital economy. For 2013, I believe there will be some important
changes in the mobile industry value chain and prevailing business
model, and in some adjacent industries where mobile plays a strong
role. Hence, the theme of my annual predictions piece: 2013: Year of Disruption.

Steve
Jobs, in promoting the iPad, famously coined the term "post-PC." With
the success of tablets, and at least modest cannibalization of PC
sales, there has been a vigorous discussion of what the next era of
"computing" will look like.Read more.

My
key takeaways from three days spent at the mobile internet focused
event, the Open Mobile Summit, in San Francisco. I think we should be
including, in this discussion, the "post-smartphone" era. Read more.

My
post-4G World assessment of the "state of the network". Where are we in
the deployment of true mobile broadband? Are there new technologies
that will deliver significant improvements in performance and
efficiency? What "smart pipe" strategies are being enabled by mobile
broadband? Read more.

The
wireless "experience" has improved across many metrics, but customer
satisfaction ratings under-index compared to peer firms in the telecom
and media sectors. Why? I'll boil it down to two words: unpleasant
surprises. Operators must do something about excessive charges for
overage and international roaming, and the creep of unnecessary fees.
How?Read more.

We
are starting to see some signs of saturation in the first wave of
smartphone adoption. Getting the next 25 percent of smartphone
subscribers is going to be a lot more challenging, and will involve
different competitive dynamics. Read more.

With
the adoption of smartphones and tablets, availability of 4G networks,
and a business model allowing for delivery of content to multiple
screens, I'd argue this is the first true 'mobile' Olympics. With all
that, however, I'd give it a bronze.Read more.

Verizon's
much anticipated shared data plan, Share Everything, is transformative
in multiple ways, allowing for shared data among multiple devices and
users in a group, and moving smartphone users toward unlimited voice
and messaging. Verizon has taken a leadership position in addressing a
market need, recognizing the natural evolution of the wireless
industry. I believe there are three aspects to Verizon's strategy, and
what it means for consumers, that have been under-explored.Read more.

We
are at a unique moment in the wireless industry's trajectory. On the
one hand, wireless is growing like gangbusters, globally, across a
range of metrics. On the other hand, there are important segments of
the industry that are not healthy. Here are ten questions
that I believe will have significant bearing on the next phase of this
industry.Read more.

A
few weeks ago, Facebook acquired mobile photo sharing app Instagram for
$1 billion. The same week, Shutterfly confirmed this week its
acquisition of Kodak Gallery, an online photo storage and publishing
division of Kodak, for $23.8 million--and the absence of any competing
bids. Are we in a bubble or is something truly disruptive happening?Read more.

Read
Mark Lowenstein's annual April Fools' riff: Stunned by a recently
released report by Cisco showing that wireless data traffic grew 92% in
the past week, the FCC has decided to rush a significant swath of
wireless spectrum to the wireless industry - through a unique auction
process called The Spectrum Games. Read More

Wireless
is among the most vibrant industries on the planet. It is an important
source of innovation and employment growth. Unfortunately, Washington
is increasingly getting in the way of the future growth of the wireless
industry in the U.S. How to fix it?Read more.

March 2012:
Lowenstein On AT&T "Throttling" Controversy:
Right Move, But Greater Transparency Needed

AT&T
is taking a major PR hit for terminating its all-you-can-eat data plan
for smartphone users. AT&T made the right decision, but the company
could have handled it better. This is the sort of situation that
demands transparency. It is also part of a broader discussion regarding
data consumption that Lowenstein believes will include fixed
broadband as well. Read More

Mobile will be one of the leading sources of
employment growth and opportunity over the next ten years. But demand
far outstrips supply in the technical fields. What should we
be doing to ensure there's adequate supply of talent to meet demand?Read more.

The
enterprise mobility market is on fire. Much of the current activity
revolves around B2E deployments and mobile policy/device management
solutions. I believe a larger transformation is just around the corner:
leading brands will harness mobile to develop entirely new revenue
streams.Read more.

In
the digital media universe, significant progress is being made on the
"content everywhere" framework for television programming, movies, and
other media. This is going to force some important economic, business
model, and customer experience questions for mobile in 2012. Read more.

For
the record, I was supportive of this deal. In the wake of its collapse,
expect an intense period of deal activity. It's also time to be
thinking about three fundamental issues: How many national 4G networks
do we really need? Why are wireless operators so unhealthy at a time of
general industry frothiness? And how do we convince regulators to look
at wireless through a modified, less telecom-centric lens? Read More

Successful as the app framework has been, I am feeling
that we are
nearing "overload." Apps are tough to manage on and across devices,
vary wildly in quality, and exist in very specific silos. Don't get me
wrong--I love my apps the same as the next guy. But given the
limitations of the existing framework, and other tools/capabilities
becoming available, it's time to be thinking about an evolved, more
semantic mobile content experience. Read More.

CNN announced recently it would make simulcasts
available on the Web and to mobile devices. Question:
do wireless operators want their subscribers streaming video over
cellular networks to their devices? Answer: Probably
not. What Should be the Answer: A More Dynamic
Connectivity Model. Read More.

Mobile Commerce is one of the next big things in
wireless. But for all
the innovation, politics, and deal-making among ecosystem players, has
there been enough focus on what the consumer wants? Read Here for my thoughts on
the issue.

When
is the last time you thought about wireless voice? Well, despite all
the focus on data, I think there will be some important changes to
good, 'ol [not always] reliable voice services over the next year.Read More.

In
May, I attended a start-up forum at the MIT Museum, where some 30 very
early stage companies were doing demos. I came away with some broader
observations about what this means for the market. Read more.

Rather
than the usual predictions column, here's a "holiday wish list" for the
wireless industry. The Lens also features some highlights from the
Webinar on Google's mobile strategy, and initial impressions of
Verizon's LTE service. Read More

With
accelerated industry growth and strong corporate balance sheets, I
believe we're going to see intensified M&A activity in the mobile
space over the next year. For some of my top predictions,Read More.

With
the growth of smartphones and app stores, the familiar refrain "the
operator is just a pipe" has intensified. This statement generally has
a negative association, as if the Apples and Googles of the world are
relegating the operators to irrelevance. I beg to differ.Read More

The
proliferation of connected devices and surging mobile data consumption
are leading to a vigorous debate about how to evolve wireless pricing.
I think the industry needs to be far more creative. Click here to
see my five main suggestions. Read More

There's
a huge dichotomy between the "wireless world" and the "internet world"
when it comes to support. How is this going to be reconciled as we
start connecting more advanced wireless internet devices, especially if
they are not coming through the operator "channel"? Read More

Just
think about the past two months. Launch of several iconic devices
through operators. The Nexus One. The $750 million purchase of AdMob.
See my December Fierce column for a look ahead to 2010. Read More

As
the network neutrality debate heats up, Lowenstein argues that the FCC
is naive when it comes to understanding the unique economics of the
wireless industry. Torrid data growth is going to lead to some major
changes in the way we price content delivered over wireless networks. Read More

We
are at a historic point in the wireless industry. Traffic growth is
expected to exceed revenue growth for the forseeable future. Remember
the early days of the Internet when AOL became known as America On
Hold? Could the same happen in wireless? What can we do about it?Read More

Operators
have been successful in automating key elements of the account
management lifecycle. It started with increasing functionality on their
Web sites, but now the device is becoming an important medium.
Implementations are generating positive ROI. Read this Lens piece
higlighting the findings of our recent White Paper. For a complimentary
copy of the full White Paper, please e-mail me.
Read More

T-Mobile
has had a couple of disappointing quarters and seems to be "caught in
the middle". Plus, there are rumors about Deutsche Telekom's plans for
the U.S. market. How might T-Mobile differentiate going forward? Read More

There
has been a great deal of attention lately to the issue of
talking/texting while driving. Rather than dwelling on the public
policy aspects, we focus here on what we can do as an industry -
education, training, products - to address the issue. Read More

Amazon
could be a much broader and more significant player in wireless than it
is today. In fact, I think they could give the Apple App Store
juggernaut a serious run for its money should they decide to enter the
fray. Read More

The
issue of the wireless industry’s “competitiveness” is heating up once
again. The centerpiece issue is handset exclusivity, but there are
broader concerns about the industry’s structure, such as the size and
scale of the major operators and the commonplace “subsidy for contract”
practice. Not so fast, I argue in the July column for Fierce. Read More

Is
Tracfone the Southwest Airlines of Wireless? With little fanfare, a new
service was announced this week that I think is a signature event for
the U.S. wireless industry: Straight Talk from Tracfone. Why is this
significant? Read More

Wireless
has fared comparatively well in this tough economy. One exception is
the marked slowdown in mobile broadband growth. My view is that the
prevailing pricing from leading operators is not aligned with the needs
of the next wave of adopters, plus the multitude of connected devices
coming to market. It's time to rethink the approach to MBB pricing. Read More

As
executives, I think it is important to learn from companies that are
being especially innovative in adapting to change, introducing new
business models, or are significantly over-indexing their peer group.
What are some of the lessons for the wireless industry? Read More

With
so much investment and effort going into the app store ecosystem, I
think it's an opportune moment to consider what the future might look
like. In this column, I will focus on the evolution of the app store
business model. My next column will focus on the evolution of app store
features and capabilities. Read More

Even
though attendance might be a little down, I think the tone of the show
will be upbeat. Here's what to expect in the areas of infrastructure,
devices, applications, open development, and more. Read More

We
are at an important fork in the road with respect to location-based
services. There is a huge amount going on in this area, yet LBS have
proven difficult to monetize. Will location be part of a premium set of
apps? Is it the holy grail of mobile search and advertising? Read More

It
became clear in 2008 that flat rate plans are, over time, going to
become the prevalent structure for wireless pricing. Even with these
developments, I believe we are starting to outgrow today's pricing
model for wireless services, when we think about a multi-device world
with all sorts of connected wireless devices. Here are some thoughts on
some new approaches. Read More

It
became clear in 2008 that flat rate plans are, over time, going to
become the prevalent structure for wireless pricing. Even with these
developments, I believe we are starting to outgrow today's pricing
model for wireless services when we consider a multi-device world. In
an expanded version of my January Fierce Wireless column, some new
pricing approaches are presented.Read More